Method for raising or forcing liquid.



H. A. HUMPHREY. METHOD FOR RAISING on roacms LIQUID.

Patented May 1, 1917. 2 SHEETSSHEET I APPLICATION FILED APR. [0, 1912- 1,224,380.

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H. HUMPHEEY. METHOD FOR musmi; 0R FORCING LIQUID.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1912- 1,224,380. Patented May 1,1917.

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HERBERT ALFRED HUMPHREY, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGN'OR TO HUMPHREY GAS PUMP COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD FOR RAISING OR FORCING LIQUID.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT ALFRED HUMPHREY, a subject of .the King of Great Britain, residing in London, England, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods for Raising or Forcing Liquid, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention comprises method and apparatus whereby the same vessel or vessels, or a part of the apparatus adjacent thereto, may be used both as combustion chambers and intensifiers and thus in some cases cheapening and simplifying the construction.

The object of the invention is to make use of the combustion chamber in any of the known types of internal combustion pumps as chambers from which, or close to which, liquid or elastic fluid under pressure is discharged. It will be obvious that, when such a method is employed, part of the energy of combustion can be employed in delivering liquid or elastic fluid under pressure, the effect being that the stored energy for returning the liquid column toward the combustion chamber, may be less by the amount of energy thus abstracted.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate merely by way of example, suitable means for effecting my invention.

Figure l is a vertical section of a (fourcycle) pump showing my invention, with part of play pipe broken away.

F ig. 1 is a vertical section of an air chamber connected with the end of the play pipe.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a water tower connected with the end of the play pipe.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a modification of a water tower.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing modifications in the combustion chamber.

Fig. 2 and Fig. 2 are modifications of air chamber and valve arrangements.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the top of combustion chamber altered to give a twostroke cycle.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of two adjacent and cooperating combustion chambers.

Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 are further modifications of the air chamber end of the play pipe.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing modification of play pipe arrangements.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section showing further modification of play pipe and air chamber arrangements.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section showing explosion chambers'at each end of play pipe.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Fig. 1 illustrates a pump of the li-cycle type. 1 is a combustion chamber fitted with an exhaust valve 6 adapted to open by its own weight and to be closed by the action of liquid rising in the chamber, and in the exhaust pipe there is a non-return valve 8. Inlet valve 7 for combustible mixture may open under the action of suction and be closed by a light spring. Liquid supply valves 2 give access to liquid from a supply tank 5, and liquid discharge valves 3 open in this case into a chamber 9 for the delivery of liquid under pressure through the pipe 10. The play pipe 4 in which a column of liquid reciprocates is shown broken and may be connected with various devices, such as are shown in Figs. 1 1 and 1.

Assuming that the play pipe 4 is connected at the end away from chamber 1 with an air vessel 11, then one cycle of operations may be described as follows :Assuming the existence of a compressed combustible charge in the upper part of chamber 1 when all the valves are closed, and that this charge is ignited, then expansion occurring will drive the liquid column downward in chamber 1 and along play pipe 4, 4 so that liquid will rise in the air vessel 11. At first air may be discharged past valve 12 and through pipe 13 while the column of liquid gains momentum. The liquid reaching valve 12 shuts this valve and the air contained in the top of vessel 11 will then be compressed and energy stored therein. l/Vhen the gases in 1 have expanded to about atmospheric pressure, exhaust valve 6 will open and liquid may flow in through valves 2 partly to foll th outwardly moving liquid column and partly to rise in chamber 1 thus driving out a portion of the products of combustion.

The liquid column having come to rest, the

expansion of the elastic cushion in vessel 11 commences a return movement, valves 2 are shut and the liquid rising in chamber 1 continues the exhaust of the burnt gases until valve 6 is closed by the liquid. The further movement of the liquid causes compression of the elastic cushion in the top of chamber 1, until a pressure is attained at which valves 3 will open; then the remaining energy of the moving column will force liquid into chamber 9 and deliver it through pipe 10 under pressure until the liquid column is again brought to rest when non-return valves 3 will close. The expansion of the elastic cushion in the top of chamber 1 now gives a second outstroke which results in the drawing in of a fresh combustible charge through valve 7 and the compression of elastic fluid in vessel 11. The second return stroke is given by the expansion of the elastic fluid in 11 and results in the compression of the fresh combustible charge in chamber 1.

For this cycle a locking gear between the valves 6 and 7 is required so that these valves only open on alternate suction strokes. If the valve gear also controls valves 3 so that these valves with valve 7 are locked during the combustion and expansion stroke in chamber 1, liquid will not be delivered into chamber 9 on this stroke, but if there is no locking gear on valves 3 liquid may be delivered on this stroke should the pressure in chamber 1 exceed the pressure in chamher 9 during part of the stroke. A suitable gear for controlling and locking the valves and also the numerous variations of the working cycle such as arise from the introduction of scavenging air, the measuring of the combustible charge, and the method of rejecting surplus charge, are fully described in my previously filed copending applications and need not be repeated; also vessel 11 may be a plain closed vessel with parts 12 and 13 omitted.

In Fig. 1 instead of the vessel 11 there is at the end of the play pipe a conical water tower 14L which may have an outlet 15 at a suitable high level. In this case the energy is stored in the water raised and the return movements of the liquid column in the play pipe 1, are due to the head or pressure to which the liquid has been raised. Liquid flowing from pipe 15 may lessen the store of energy available for the return stroke.

The end of the play pipe 4: may be continued vertically to deliver between two circular plates and 16 which are fixed relatively to one another as shown. The velocity of the liquid discharged between these plates will then be gradually reduced from the center to the circumference thus conserving some of the kinetic energy. The amount of energy available for producing the return flow may be limited by causing the discharge into tank 17 to occur above the surface of the Water in the tank so that liquid once discharged cannot flow back again into the play pipe.-

It is important that the volume of the cushion space into which the elastic fluid is compressed before the liquid discharge valves 8 open should be adjustable, and in Fig. 2 a -cycle pump is shown in which the exhaust valve 6 is surrounded by a pipe 18 open at the top and bottom and fixed so that its lower end always dips into liquid. In this pipe there is a throttle valve 19 which can be operated from outside the pump. In the sides of the chamber 1 are placed mixture inlet valves 7 and scavenging air valves 20. The valves 7 are approximately at the same level as valve 6, and valves 20 are approximately at the level at which expansion reaches atmospheric pressure on the working stroke. The operation is as follows Valves 6 and 20 are allowed to open toward the end of the working stroke and are locked shut on the cushion expansion stroke while valves 7 are allowed to open on the cushion expansion stroke and are locked shut on the working stroke. Assuming a compressed combustible charge in the top of chamber 1, ignition occurs and liquid is driven clownward until the gases have expanded to about atmospheric pressure when the further movement causes scavenging air to enter valves 20 and as this air is cool it tends to lie on the surface of the liquid whereas the hot products of combustion tend to rise to the top of the chamber. Liquid entering through valves 2 may cause a partial exhaust before the liquid column in play pipe 4 comes to rest. If pipe 4: connects with air vessel 21, see Fig. 52, energy will be stored in the air compressed in the latter during the working stroke and the expansion of this air will cause a return stroke which will drive liquid upward in the combustion chamber both inside and outside of pipe 18. The exhaust products will escape through valve 6 by passing from the top of chamber 1 downward to valve 6 through the annular space between the exhaust pipe and pipe 18 until the liquid rising in the pipe 18 closes valve 6. The elastic cushion then remaining in the chamber is further compressed until the pressure is attained at which liquid de livery valves 8 open and liquid is discharged while the liquid column in pipe at is brought to rest. The expansion of the compressed elastic fluid in the top of chamber 1 will now cause a reverse flow and the liquid passing below valves 7 will draw in fresh combustible mixture and energy will be stored by the second compression of the air in vessel 21. This compressed air supplies the energy for the second return stroke in which the combustible mixture compressed whereupon its ignition will start a fresh cycle. If the throttle valve 19 iswide open liquid will rise both inside and outside pipe 18 on the first return stroke at about the same speed, but if the throttle valve is partly closed it will retard the rise of liquid inside pipe 18 so that when exhaust valve 6 shuts, the liquid outside pipe 18 will have risen to a higher level. The volume of the elastic cushion will then be less than if valve 19 had been wide' open, and the adjustment of this valve furnishes a valuable means of altering the volume of the cushion. As mentioned in connection with Fig. 1, valves 3 may be locked along with valves 7 on the working stroke if the pressure of liquid delivery is less than the explosion pressure and if it is desired that there should be no delivery of liquid during the working stroke.

In Fig. 2 there is shown in communication with the play pipe 4 at a point between combustion chamber 1 and the air vessel 21 a set of liquid inlet valves 22 and liquid discharge valves 23 to indicate that liquid may be discharged through valves 23 on the working stroke in chamber 1 and liquid may be taken in through valves 22 on the first return stroke caused by the expansion of the air in vessel 21. If liquid is discharged through valves 23 as mentioned there will be less energy left to be stored in vessel 21; also, the expansion of air in 21 may be carried below atmospheric pressure to cause the intake of liquid through valves 22 so that less energy proceeds to the combustion chamber 1. V

For the air vessel 21 may be substituted the double air vessel divided into two parts 24 and 25, Fig. 2 which communicate through valve 26, this valve being adapted to be shut by the liquid rising in chamber 24. On the explosion stroke in the combustion chamber 1 liquid will be forced along pipe 4 and rising in vessel 24 will compress air in both 24 and 25 until valve 26 is shut. Any further movement of the liquid will then increase the pressure in chamber 24 until the liquid is brought to rest. The return stroke of the liquid column is then first due to the air expanding in 24, and then, when the pressure permits valve 26 to open,

to the expansion jointly in 24 and 25. In.

a 4-cycle pump valve 26 can be controlled so that it only opens on one return stroke and remains locked on the other return stroke.

Fig. 3 shows the top of the combustion chamber of Fig. 1 altered to give a 2-stroke cycle. In this example a partition 27 divides the combustion chamber and is arranged so that the lower part of the partition is always in liquid and the upper part is not continued to the top of the chamber. An exhaust valve 6 is fitted on one side of the partition at a level above that of the inlet valve 28 situated on the other side of the partition. Valve 6 is shut by the liquid when it rises to the level of this valve and the volume above the valve determines the quantity of combustible mixture compressed by the further movement of the liquid. Explosion of a compressed charge in the top of the chamber drives the liquid downward in the combustion chamber 1 until a pressure about that of the atmosphere, is

attained, When valve 28 opens against a light spring and further downward movement of the liquid causes a fresh combustible charge to be drawn in on the left hand side of partition 27. On this working stroke energy is stored in any of the devices shown in Figs. 1 1*, 1, 2' and 2", or other suitable arrangement. Before the return movement of the liquid starts in the play pipe there may be a flow of liquid under gravity through the liquid supply valves 2 to give a partial exhaust of burnt products through exhaust valve 6, then the further exhaust of products is produced by the returning column of liquid until valve 6 is shut. By this time the combustible mixture which was at first on the left hand side of the partition 26 now occupies the top of the chamber on both sides of the partition and the further return movement of the liquid column will compress this charge until the pressure is that at which delivery valves 3 open when liquid will be delivered until the column is brought to rest and valves 3 shut. The ignition of the charge may be brought about by the shutting of valves 3 and these valves may be locked until re leased by the opening and closing of valve 28. In order to facilitate delivery of liquid at a lower pressure and to permit of a shorter return stroke of the liquid column the cycle of operations may be modified by allowing the liquid which flows into the combustion chamber from the liquid supply to flow under such conditions of head or pressure and inertia that it will rise in the chamber high enough to close valve 6 be fore the column of liquid returns, in which case the combustible charge drawn in through valve 28 toward the end of the outstroke will occupy the top of the chamber above valve 6 and compression of this charge will begin when the liquid column returns.

In Fig. 4 is shown a pump having two combustion chambers A and B in which combustion and expansion occur alternately. There are in the respective chambers valves 2,2 for the admission of supply liquid and valves 3, 3 for the delivery of liquid under pressure. Fitted to the tops of the chambers are exhaust valves 6, 6 and admission valves 7, 7. Assuming that the chamber B is full of liquid with the exception of a small elastic cushion in the top of the chamber, and that a compressed combustible charge exists in the top of chamber A, ignition of this charge occurs and drives the liquid downward in A and along play pipe 4, to store energy in the air vessel 21 of Fig. 4 and it may be to deliver some liquid under pressure through valves 23 which communicate with the play pipe at a point between the combustion chambers and the air vessel 21. As the pressure falls toward the end of the expansion stroke in chamber A supply liquid may enter through the liquid supply valves and combustible mixture may be taken into chamber B due to the liquid falling in that chamber. Also the supply liquid may cause a partial exhaust of burnt products in chamber A due to the supply liquid rising in the chamber, exhaust valve 6 having opened to permit the discharge of these products. The liquid column in the play pipe having come to rest the compressed air in vessel 21 expands and liquid rises in chamber A to expel burnt product's until exhaust valve 6 is shut and then in chamber 13 to compress a fresh charge therein until the pressure is that at which delivery valves 3, 3 open, when liquid will be delivered. Instead of the delivery valves 23 in the play pipe, as shown in Fig. 45, there may be liquid inlet valves 22 as shown in Fig. A, and in this example liquid can be supplied to these valves by gravity. The double chamber pump shown in Fig. A can be attached to any of the play pipes and energy storing devices shown in the illustrations or any other suitable arrangement for storing energy for the return stroke.

In the illustrations so far described the liquid delivery valves 3 have opened into a closed chamber in which an air cushion is shown. This cushion can be dispensed with. By making pipe 10 long the momentum which the liquid acquires may be utilized to cause a continuation of flow past the point of the cycle beyond which the pressure in the combustion chamber alone would be insufficient to continue the discharge.

In Fig. 5 the combustion chamber 1 of a 2-cycle pump is shown connected with a bent play pipe A which is carried upward above the level of the combustion chamber and has a closed end so that air may be compressed in the space 29 at the top of the vertical limb. Chamber 1 is provided with the device explained with reference to Fig. 2 for varying the column of elastic fluid compressed. In the sides of the chamber are fitted mixture inlet valves 7, the levels of these valves being such that on the expansion stroke liquid reaches the valves when about atmospheric pressure is reached. On combustion and expansion occurring liquid .is driven downward in the combustion chamber and rises in the right hand limb of the play pipe to compress the elastic fluid in the space 29 and thus to store energy partly by raising liquid and partly by com pressing elastic fluid. When the pressure in the combustion chamber is about that of the atmosphere, exhaust valve 6, admission valves 7 and liquid inlet valves 2 open and a fresh charge of mixture and fresh liquid are taken in. There may also be a partial exhaust due to the supply liquid rising in the chamber. When the liquid column in the play pipe comes to rest a return movement follows and, valves 2 shutting, the liquid rises in chamber 1 both inside and outside the tube 18. The fresh charge being cold will tend to lie on the surface of the liquid and the products of combustion being hot will tend to rise to the top of the chamber from which they are driven to the exhaust valve through the space between the exhaust pipe and pipe 18 until the liquid reaching the exhaust valve shuts it thus entrapping a new charge in the top of the chamber. When the compression pressure is that at which valves 3 open liquid will be delivered and the liquid column in pipe 4 will be brought to rest. The shutting of valve 3 may now cause ignition and start a fresh cycle.

In Fig. 6 the combustion chamber 1 is of the same type as that shown in Fig. 3 but the play pipe 4 in this case is carried down vertically to communicate with an air vessel 30 so shaped as to give an expanding passage for the liquid entering. The energy for the return stroke is in this case stored wholly in the compressed air in vessel 30' which has also to lift the liquid in the play pipe 4:. As before, 2 are the supply valves for liquid and 3 are the delivery valves and there is no need to repeat the cycle except to explain that when energy has been stored in the compressed air during the combustion and expansion stroke and a fresh combustible charge has been introduced into the combustion chamber the returning column of liquid forced upward in pipe 4 as the air in 30 expands drives out burnt products until exhaust valve 6 is shut, compresses a new charge until valves 3 open, and liquid is delivered while the moving column in pipe 4: is brought to rest. As explained with reference to the other illustrations,

some liquid may be discharged from a valve or valves 23 communicating with the air vessel 30 in which case there will be less energy available for giving the return stroke.

When there are two explosion chambers C and D, one at each end of the play pipe I as shown in Fig. 7, these chambers may be fitted with supply valves 2. 2 and liquid delivery valves 3, 3, and each combustion chamber may serve as an intensifier chamber from which liquid is delivered during the working stroke in the other chamber whether the cycle of operations in the cham ber is 2-stroke or t-stroke. t is sometimes desirable that when the combustion and expansion stroke happen in chamber C the liquid delivery valves 3 of this chamber should be locked shut so that they only operate for the discharge of liquid during the combustion and expansion stroke in chamber D. A similar remark applies to valves 3 in chamber D. There may also be a liquid delivery from valves 19 communicating 13o with the play pipe at a point between the chambers C and D where the pressure remains most nearly constant so that less of the energy developed on a working stroke in one chamber remains to be delivered in the other chamber.

In illustrations which are purely diagrammatic the combustion chambers have generally been shown delivering into a horizontal play pipe ending in a vertical limb or'an air vessel but it is obvious that the play pipe need not be horizontal but may assume any shape, such as a U or a plain vertical pipe, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 respectively, nor is it necessary that the play pipe should be of uniform diameter. All such matters are, however, obvious to those skilled in the art, and an indefinite number of constructions could be shown without varying the principles involved.

What I claim is l. The method which consists in reciproeating a liquid, the first movement of reciprocation being due to the expansive force.

of an ignited compressed combustible charge, the return or instroke being due to the energy stored by the outstroke, utilizing the instroke to store energy in an elastic cushion and also to deliver fluid under pressure.

2. The method which consists in reciprocating a liquid, the first movement of reciprocation being due to the expansive force of an ignited compressed combustible charge, the return or instroke being due .to the energy stored by the outstroke, utilizing the instroke to store energy in an elastic cushion and also'to deliver liquid, utilizing the movement of the outstroke to compress a second combustible charge, expanding this charge to cause an instroke and utilizing the movement of the instroke to compress an elastic cushion and to deliver fluid.

3. The method which consists in reciprocating a liquid, the first movement of reciprocation being due to the expansive force of an ignited compressed combustible charge, the return or instroke being due to the energy stored by the outstroke, utilizing the instroke to store energy in an elastic cushion and also to deliver liquid, utilizing the movement of the outstroke to compress a second combustible charge, expanding this charge to cause an instroke and utilizing the movement of the instroke to compress an elastic cushion and to deliver fluid under pressure.

4. The method which consists in reciprocating a liquid, the first movement of reciprocation being due to the expansive force of an ignited compressed combustible charge, the return or instroke being due to the energy stored by the outstroke, utilizing the instroke to store energy in an elastic cushion and also to deliver liquid, and utilizing the movement of the outstroke to compress a fresh combustible charge and to deliver liquid.

5. The method which consists in reciprocating a liquid, the first movement of reciprocation being due to the expansive force of an ignited compressed combustible charge, the return or instroke being due to the energy stored by the outstroke, utilizing the instroke to store energy in an elastic cushion and also to deliver liquid, and guiding the elastic fluids so as to obtain stratification of the fluids and to hinder intermixing.

6. The method which consists in reciprocating a liquid, the first movement of reciprocation being due to the expansive force of an ignited compressed combustibe charge, the return or instroke being due to the en ergy stored by the outstroke, utilizing the instroke to store energy in an elastic cushion and also to deliver liquid and diminishing the energy of the instroke by allowing liquid to be delivered on one or both strokes of its reciprocation.

7. The method which consists in reciprocating a liquid, the first movement of reciprocation being due to the expansive force of an ignited compressed combustible charge, the return or instroke being due to the energy stored by the outstroke, utilizing the instroke to store energy in an elastic cushion and also to deliver liquid and diminishing the energy of the instroke by allowing liquid to be delivered on one or more strokes of its reciprocation, wherein the liquid delivered on such stroke is delivered from that part of the liquid column where the pressure remains most nearly constant.

8. The method which consists in reciprocating a liquid, the first movement of recip rocation being due to the expansive force of an ignited compressed combustible charge, the return or instroke being due to the energy stored by the outstroke, utilizing the instroke to store energy in an elastic cushion and also to deliver liquid, wherein after a combustible charge has been drawn into a closed combustion space, the supply liquid flows into said space under such conditions of pressure and inertia that liquid rising in said space expels products of combustion and entraps the combustible charge which then serves as the elastic cushion compressed by the inwardly flowing column of liquid before liquid is delivered, substantially as described.

9. The method which consists inreciproeating a liquid, the first movement of reciprocation being due to the expansive force of an ignited compressed combustible charge, the return or instroke being due to the energy stored by the outstroke, utilizing the instroke to store energy in an elastic cushion and also to deliver liquid, and varying the volume of the elastic cushion compressed by the moving column of liquid by dividing the liquid, which rises to determine the volume of such cushion, into a number of parts and controlling the rise of liquid therein.

10. The method which consists in reciproeating a liquid column with a velocity sufficiently limited to preserve the coherence of the column and having suflicient bulk and path of travel in order to acquire useful momentum, the-first movement of reciprocation being due to an elastic prime medium having pressure and expansive force, the return or instroke being due to the energy stored by the outstroke, utilizing the instroke to store energy in an elastic cushion and also to deliver fluid under pressure.

11. The method which consists in reciprocating a liquid column with a velocity sufficiently limited to preserve the coherence of the column and having sufficient bulk and path of travel in order to acquire useful momentum, the first movement of reciprocation being due to an elastic prime medium having pressure and expansive force, the return or instroke being due to the energy stored by the outstroke, utilizing the instroke to store energy in an elastic cushion and also to deliver fluid and diminishing the energy of the instroke by allowing liquid to be delivered on the outstroke.

12. The method which consists in recipstroke to store energy in an elastic cushion and also to deliver fluid and diminishing the energy of the instroke by allowing liquid to be delivered on the instroke.

13. The method which consists in reciprocating a liquid column with a velocity sufliciently limited to preserve the coherence of the column and having a suflicient bulk and path of travel in order to acquire useful momentum, the first movement of reciprocation being due to an elastic prime medium having pressure and expansive force, the return or instroke being due to the energy stored by the outstroke, utilizing the instroke to store energy in an elastic cushion and also to deliver fluid, and diminishing the energy of the instroke by allowing liquid to be delivered on the instroke and outstroke.

HERBERT ALFRED HUMPHREY.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH MILLARD,

E. C. WALKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

